Interview With 40 Below Summer

Tonight, March 11th, I sat down with the lead singer of the band 40 Below Summer. Max Illidge. Before interviewing him I watched their set and it was amazing. They always seem to get better and better every time I see them. This time though they added a little something extra, right before playing their song ‘Fuck Everyone’ Max said “This song is for all of these shitty fucking bands out there, you all know what I’m talking about too! Bands like The Vines, The Strokes, The White Stripes, and most of all that annoying fucking band The Darkness! So say it with me, Fuck The Darkness!!!” Sure enough all of the fans chanted along with this one. Then the song started and everyone went nuts, the pit was huge and no one was standing still. A very amazing night and I look forward to seeing these guys every time they come around, and everyone reading this should check them out too. They’re such an amazing band live and it’s worth whatever you have to pay to see them!

The interview went as follows:

Mike(CorrosiveMind): What are some of the major influences that made you want to become a singer?

Max Illidge (40 below summer): Ya know, I don't think there were any major influences. I think I just always knew that I wanted to make music. it was just a matter of finding what to do, I could play guitar, I can play bass, drums. I just had to keep fighting, to figure out what I’d like to do most.

Mike: What is some advice you would give an aspiring musician to help them make it big?

Max: Practice, ya know, keep at it, hand out your stuff, fliers, demo's just don't give up and get the word out there.

Mike: What band or bands would you like to go on tour with?

Max: Uh I don't know, I mean I’d like to tour with a lot of bands. like the Deftones, A Perfect Circle, pretty much any band really.

Mike: Pretty much anyone other then The Darkness right?

Max: (sarcastically) Oh I’d love to tour with The Darkness.

Mike: What was it like to work with Christian from Ill Nino for the song Fuck Everyone? Was it very different as you guys have never really had a guest on your cds?

Max: Nah, it was pretty cool, we are all best friends with each other(40 Below Summer and Ill Nino) and actually our rehearsal spaces were right next to each others, so he'd always come over and do backing vocals for our songs and shit, and the song it actually took him like 5 maybe 10 minutes to record it.

Mike: Would you like your music to be played on the radio, or would you like it to be kept kind of a little underground as it is now?

Max: Uh no, I gotta eat too man (laughs), so yea I’d like to hear it on the radio.

Mike: I heard you guys are making a video for Taxicab Confessions right now, with Jeffery Nothing from Mushroomhead. How is the video going, and how does it look?

Max: Well it's done, it's been shot, but it hasn't been edited yet. I haven't seen any drafts of it yet, I don't know what it will look like yet but Jeffery is a very creative guy, very strange, and talented. most of the stuff he creates is very surreal, and I’ve seen his work with his own videos for his band and I love the video's so I’m sure the video will be great.

Mike: Well thank you again for this interview, and hope to see you guys next time you're in the Philly area!